When I was living in Osaka in 2002-03, it was easier for me to go to Kyoto rather than in the south of Osaka so I have spent a lot of time there going to the temples and shrines, festivals and parcs. Now in Kobe, I have to go 50 miles by train to the main area of Kawaramachi, and I need to take 3 trains each way!Let’s say that going to Kyoto will be limited to very important events unfortunately.

I also went to Gion, the famous neigborhood in Kyoto for its geisha and maiko (geisha in training). The charm of the small narrow street is still there. Iwas lucky to catch a glimpse at a maiko running out of a taxi to go into a restaurant. She was too fast for me, but she was wearing a beautiful yukata (summer kimono) and her face was white as snow. The “true” geishas and maikos don’t really stand at the corner of the streets for you to take a picture and try to be really discreet so I feel like I got lucky to spot one!!

So Daimonji! This festival is the height of the traditional Obon holiday (festival of the death). Over 5 hills surrounding Kyoto, 5 Japanese characters or kanjis are burned into the forest. The first one a 8: Daimonji which means big and 4 others are light up one after the others until 8:30. From where we were we could only see Daimonji, it’s too bad because there was a lot of people and we got to see only 1!Next time, we will probably try to go outside the city and maybe we will be more lucky!